Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by Molson2000:

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3.8/5 rDev +0.3%

Got it pretty cheap so it's rather old, but, eh, why not?!Hazy dark orange, small creamy head that lingers for some time.There's still some hop on the nose, some grapefruit, faint tropical fruit, but a stronger biscuit and caramel maltiness. A dried up leafy note too.Grapefruity hops still hold a nice foothold here, a nice bitter-sweet start. Almost lacks the tropical notes, a hint of mango, a bit of tangerine, a nice generically floral honey sweetness too. Really toasted biscuits, a bit grainy too. Light pine resin, but otherwise nice leafy hops with a nice and dry finish, a bit earthy.Medium body, low carbonation. Malts are a bit too present in the aftertaste, hop bitterness in the back of the throat and some grapefruit peel.This was probably really good fresh. Still, my grade won't hurt it that much, overall.

Thanks to Chris for this one. Can't say for sure that I've had anything with Falconers Flight hops, so we'll see how this goes. It pours a mostly opaque and cloudy amber color, not too far off from the original Crooked Tree; perhaps it's a shade darker. The very weak and small, gray tinted head is thin and soapy and doesn't leave much lace behind.

I lean in and take a whiff and the aroma is pretty muted at first. The beer really isn't too cold, so that's not the problem. The aroma just isn't popping as well as it could/should. A large amount of herbal and lightly peppery hops jump out. There's a mild, borderline-urine aroma trudging in the background, almost reminding me a bit of Simcoe hops.

Malts are surprisingly noticeable, giving off some sticky caramel notes. The citric and grapefruit characters coming off aren't nearly as strong as I'd hoped for, and I'm not getting them as heavily as many other people on here seem to be. Very mild hop oil and white pepper covered grapefruit, but it's still pretty tame compared to the herbal and leafy hops.

I take a sip and I don't love it at first. It's a bit watered down. It's still has a medium body and feels lightly sticky, but the taste itself is thin. Just like the aroma, herbal hops and white pepper are the first flavors to hit the palate and they carry hard into the aftertaste. Citric characters are once again low compared to everything else. Perhaps my expectations were too high for citrus, but aside from a mild, piney grapefruit peel, there isn't much there.

I'm picking up larger bouts of herbs, leaves, ash, and even a bit of char. The malts add a substantial caramel-like sweetness and some bready notes, although the bitterness beats it out just a bit. Spicy hops and a dry, bitter finish leave me wanting something more from this beer. Carbonation is pretty low, sadly, and doesn't really bode well for the mouth feel.

All in all, this was my least favorite of the three variations of Crooked Tree. That said, it certainly wasn't bad, and it was still highly drinkable, but it just wasn't very exciting and I was expecting a little more from it. Everyone seems to note the high citrus and pine and resin from the FF hops, but I was mostly getting herbs and ash. Falconers Flight hops should do very well as a part of a robust hop bill, but they leave a bit to be desired when they're the only ones being used.

Vertical tasting with the other crooked trees. 2nd favorite of the series. Red caramel color while pouring. Citrus smell and malts as well as a bit of oats. Very malty cities flavor as well. Nice smooth finish. Second favorite of the four I tried. Nicely done.

The Falconer’s Flight variation of Crooked Tree pours an orange stained amber color. It’s extremely cloudy or hazy. A little light behind it gives it more of an orange appearance. A soft white head covers the top. It’s modest, rising to less than a finger in height. It dissipates somewhat quickly. Lacing was sticky and moderate in volume. Looks pretty good.

The nose is good. I can’t say I’m all that familiar with Falconer’s Flight hops. They smell really nice though. They definitely impart a strong citric hop scent. Smells like grapefruit, mango and orange throughout. The malt base smells like a mix of caramel and toasted malts. Smells a little bread-like. Fortunately, the caramel doesn’t smell too strong. It smells a little sweet, but not strong. Hops shine through loud and clear. Alcohol is there, but isn’t too strong. Smells good.

The flavor is likewise pretty good. The malt base is definitely a mix of caramel and toasted varieties. It’s not my favorite mix of malts in an American IPA, but the flavors are subtle. Not bad at all. They’re subtle enough to let the hops shine. The hops are definitely citric. Grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and even mango flavors are noted. It’s a nice mix of flavors. It has a light bitter kick, but the malts do a nice job of balancing things out. It falls on the hop side of the fence, but not by a large margin. Alcohol is blended pretty well. Finishes citrusy and a little dry.

The body is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is light and soft. It feels really nice and smooth. Goes down nice and easy. I wouldn’t mind having a couple.

The Falconer’s Flight version of Crooked Tree is good stuff. I like it. I don’t quite think it rivals the original, but it is a nice twist. This has a been a nice mix pack so far.